Chair or seat



Nov. 2, 1937. J. TURNER 2,097,541

CHAIR 0R SEATl y Filed M ay 29, 1936 2 sheets-sheet 1 Nov. 2, 1937.

J. TURNER `CHAIR OR SEAT Filed May 29, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Patented Nov. 2, 1937 Unirse srATfEfs esisti CHAIR oRfsEAT p .lohnlTurnerfOontoocookN. -npplicationM'ay 29, 1936.seiffelsur.:saskiay solemne. (o1. 1557`1`i9 fj This Vinvention'relates to chairscrseats and 'has for an object to Vprov-ide aco'nstruction wherein the body supporting portionwill automatically conform to pressure of various parts of the body thereagainst so as to Ysupport the back 4Aof the occupant in accordance withhis position, thereby "to Yincrease his comfort.

A further Objectis -toproduceastructure simple in character and inexpensive and easy to fabricate with relatively few tools.

`Still another object is to produce a construction whereinthe -amount of pressurel exerted-against the back of the occupant in relationto his position 'on the seat portion may be adjusted by the occupant to suit his particular requirements or to modify the feelfof the chair from time to 'time as heY may nd desirable'for his'maximum comfort. Y

`A still furtherY object of `this invention is to 'provide aconstruction particularly 'desirable for use in automotive vehicles, Veliminating the necessity of using coil springs beneath the seat'portion,

and thus increasing lthe roomavailable'underv the seat for the storage of toolsor other'articles.

Further objects and advantages will appear from a more complete description of certain embodiments of the invention `shown in the accompanying drawings in which n Figure 1 is a perspective -view of one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevationof the same to a larger scale with the back covering omitted. i Figures Brand 4 are detail. perspectives of certain elements of the construction.

Figure 5'is a section on line-E-of Figure '2. Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective to a larger scale than Figure 5 andshowing certa-in of the loading adjustment mechanism.

YFigures '7 and 8 are fragmentary sectionalviews similar to portions of'Figure', 'but illustrating certain modifications.

Referring to Figures 1 to v5, at Irare'vin'dicated Y side Vframe members to which-are-secureda"top back 'member 2, and a yfront seat member 3. As

shown best in Figure 5, the top 'back member l2 comprises three cross frame members 4, 5 and, 'the members l and 5 being of rectangular cross section and bridged over lat their upper edges by the member I5 which is aat on its under Yface and curved atrits upper face iThe front seat members are shown as comprisingrthe two strips 'I and; 8. Arranged along the top' back member i2 and secured tothe member vSithereof l'are a series of .flexible strips I which `may be 'of steel of,` say, twelve .hundredths of aan V.inch thick. Metal of thischarac'ter, while of high tensilestren'gtn can A' kbe readilypunchedwith a hand vpunchV to form holes through which :may be vpassed securing screws I Irby which-fthe strips may be secured in position. rPhe .forward ends of these strips are L Ybrought `overrthe front seat member 3 and are there secured in `a vsimilar manner as bythe 1 screws I2. "The intermediatepo'rtion of each of these strips depends "between-the members 2 and 3 1 and 'forms a :continuous seat and back .portion `of'theI-s'tructure. ,-Atthe-lower'part of theback l-portion'o'f'veaoh 'of these .strips and at the `back part 'of 'the-seat .portion is `secured to each ablock VI'Sfhavinga concave' upper face -I4 which defines the curvature /where the 4back and seat portionsv merge. YThese blocks LIla may have their inner faces; as at I5 and I6, curved outwardly `toward the convex :backV and under `face .26 -to form rpor- 'tionsabout which the ystripsmaylmore or less wrap as "the strips areflexed by` pressure' eccentrically appliedthereto with 'relation' to Ythe blocks. 'Ihese V'#blocksfli may be secured at suitable points, las Il `and-18,10 the str-ips 1I!! and these strips are also tiedtogether'laterallycf the structure as by means 'of Iaflexible tapeats-I 3. 'I'his flexible tape not Aonly H retains VAthe 'strips .ini spaced relation intermediate ltothe-irendsglbut transmitssome vmotion from one strip to 'its tadjacent stripsso that they all'are caused toconform generally tothe contour of the `:body of the occupant. .These strips andthe frame 30 fme-mberslZ-I and-3 are shown as covered withr a con- -tinuouscushionZ overi the back and seat'portions and this may be-'provided with a suitable' fcoveringf fabric as 2 I 'Thecushion may be made 'fof sponge rubber,vcotton, hair, or `be of any other suitable construction.

It wiube' noted that the blocks V|73 are nearing- "l'y'arranged so 'that pressure exerted on the for S-ward ends Aof each to Vdeflect these ends, as into lith'efdotted .line position shown at 22, will bring the vupperrear ends of the blocks inwardly into the dotted line position shown at V23 so `that viw'herenthe-'occupant is exerting pressure inthe seat portionagainst 'the forward ends' of the blocks, 'these blocks transmit pressure tothe back'V 'byfthe -body of the .ocoupant'to exert apressure These blocks,Y therefore, act to against another portion of the body. Thus the chair follows the configuration of the body of the occupant during all changes of his position therein thus producing a comfortable support.

Means may be provided by which an initial loading may be placed on these blocks I3 so as to suit the requirements of the individual occupant, or to permit the nature of the response to pressure exerted on one portion of the body-supporting surface to be adjustable, so ,that .the occupant may change the feel of the chair from time to time in order to provide a rest due to changing response where the occupant remains remain seated for long periods ata time.

In order that this loading 'may be appliedand adjusted as desired, a bar 30 is shown as arranged transversely between the end frames l in a rockable relation thereto. In the -.f orm shown in Figures 2 and 5, one edge of this bar, as at 3l, is provided with a series of eyes 32 for the attachment of loading coil springs 33. The opposite end of each of these springs is vsuitably secured to the back or lower face of one of. the blocks I3, which blocks are arranged in substantial alinement across the width of the structure. By adjusting the angularity ofthe bar ,30, it will be seen that the tension applied to the springs 33 may be adjusted as desired. A suitable hand actuator for adjusting this angularity may be provided. This, as shown in Figure 1, comprises a handle 35 which may be grasped by the occupant of the chair, this handle being secured to the end of the journal member 36 secured to one end of the bar 30.

Means may be provided for retaining the bar 3B in any adjusted angular position, and as shown this comprises a spring pin 40 projecting from the'bar 30 (see Figure 6) which may be engaged in any of a series of notches 4| in an arcuate plate 42 secured to the inner face of one of the end frame members I. The engagement of the spring pin 4l] in any of the `notches 4| frictionally holds the bar 30 in adjusted position, but permits the bar to be turned from one to another position by manipulation of the handle 35.

Instead of employing the coil springs for loading the blocks I3, leaf springs 45 may be employed as shown in Figure 7, one end of each of these springs being secured to one of the blocks-I3, and the other being secured to the bar 30.

Where a more springy or yielding actionl in the structure is desired than can be produced by the structure previously described, this may be secured by producing a series of corrugations as at 58 in the spring elements Illa as shown in Figure 8. Corrugated sections may be formed in both the back and seat portions as shown in this gure, or in either one as may be found desirable.

Where the structure is of sufficient width for more than one occupant, it will be noted that the action of the parts will permit conformationto the requirements of each substantially independently of all the others. f

From the foregoing description of certain embodiments of this invention, it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as dened by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A structure of the class described, comprisinga top back frame member, a front seat member, means for supporting said members in spaced relation, ilexible strips arranged side by side and secured at'their ends to said members, and depending therebetween and forming a body support, and a rigid curved element secured concave-side up to the lower face of each strip intermediate said members.

2. A structure of the class described, comprising a top back frame member, a front seat member, means for supporting said members in spaced relation, ilexible strips arranged side by side and H.secured at their ends to said members, and depending therebetween and forming a body support, and a rigid curved element secured concavesideup to the lower face of each strip intermediate said members, said elements being positioned inL substantial-alinement laterally of the structure.`

A3. A structure of the class described, comprising :a top back frame member, a front seat member,

means for supporting said members in spaced relation, flexible strips arranged side by side and secured at theirends to said members, and depending therebetween and forming a body support, and a rigid curved element secured concaveside up to the lower face of each strip intermediate said members, said elements having their inner faces at their ends curved toward their outer faces and forming bearings over which the corresponding strip may wrap on rocking of said elements by eccentrically applied pressure.

4. A structure of the class described, comprising a top back frame member, a front seat member, means for supporting said members in spaced relation, flexible strips arranged side by side and secured at theirV ends to said members, and depending therebetween and forming a body support, a jrigid curved element secured concaveside up to Athe lower face of each strip intermediate said members, and means applying a loading pressure to said elements.

5. A structure ofthe class described, comprising a top back frame member, a front seat member, means for supporting said members in spaced relation, iiexible strips arranged side by side and secured at their ends to said members, and depending therebetween and forming a body support, arigid curved element secured concave-side up to the lower face of each strip intermediate said members, means applying a loading pressure to said elements, and means effective to adjust the amount of said loading pressure.

6. A structure of the class Vdescribed comprising a top back memberand a front seat member, a flexible body supporting member secured at its ends to said back-and seat members and depending therebetween to form seat and back portions, and means engaging said seat and back portions and'transmitting pressure exerted on one of said portions from the occupant to pressure against the occupant at the other of said portions.

' 7. A structure of the class described, comprising a top back member, a front seat member, side frames supporting said members, aseries of ilexible strips secured at opposite ends to said members and depending therebetween to form seat and back portions, a block having a concave upper face secured to the lower face of each strip at the lower part of the back portion and at the rear part of the seat portion, a bar rockably supported between said side frames back of said strips, springs connecting said blocks to said bar eccentric to the pivotal axis of said bar, and means for adjusting the angular position of said pending therebetween and forming a body support, a rigid curved element secured concave-side up, tothe lower face of each strip intermediate said members, and a continuous cushion member overlying vsaid strips and forming aV continuousv 5 seat and back covering.

JOHN TURNER. 

